At the time of writing this article, the Volta a Catalunya is in full swing. These weeks we are already somewhat in the Spanish spheres, because of the articles around them Tenerife en Gran Canaria (The last part of that is coming soon too!) We asked Gerard from CBT about the 5 most beautiful climbs in Catalonia and the list certainly doesn't disappoint. Want to know where to go for a nice ride in the Catalan countryside? Add these climbs to your next cycling holiday. Check out our Girona Collection on komoot!.
Vallter 2000
This steep climb has never been included in the Vuelta or the Tour. Sadly, you might say. The climb to the ski station (there’s something about 2000, just like Isola 2000) takes you to an altitude of 2156 meters. It’s a climb with a very long uphill section, which is a total of over 22 kilometers long. The first part is quite easy, with slopes below five percent. But just after the halfway mark, the hardest part begins. At 10 kilometers below the top, you start the most difficult part. You have a kilometer-long climb of over 10 percent, with a peak of 12%. Anyway, you’re climbing above 8% meters the entire way, and you really feel it. It’s kind of like Passo Giau With a large turnout. The finish, with the almost perfect hairpin bends is pure pleasure. Just before that you already had some relief with lower gradient percentages.
Vallter 2000 route
La Creueta
Near the border between Spain and France lies the Coll de la Creueta. The summit is at an altitude of 1916 meters above sea level. Up until 2000, the Vuelta regularly took place here, but since then this monster climb has been somewhat neglected. Is that right? Not really. Whether you attack it from the north (a climb of over 20 kilometers) or from the south (almost 30 kilometers long), you have a magnificent challenge ahead of you. One in which the uphill percentages are also quite high. In a race for the pros, that is an important factor. If you have a steady climb, you won’t get much spectacle. The southern side of this climb is quite irregular. There are several variants, but each variant has its own irregularity.
Route Coll de la Creueta
Turó de L’Home
It’s a 25-kilometer climb with an average gradient of 5.9%. That doesn’t tell the whole story of this beautiful ascent. The first 5 kilometers are for ‘warming up.’ After that, the real work begins. You start on a beautiful wide road, but eventually end up on a relatively steep goat path. It must be said: the views are beautiful. The icing on the cake of this climb is the last 6 kilometers, where you average over 8% and regularly see ‘double digits.’ Like many climbs in this area, there’s little regularity. But that view. That makes up for a lot!
Route Turó de l’Home
Sant Grau
This climb is especially spectacular because of its location, right by the sea. In 6.2 kilometers you climb to an altitude of 471 meters. With an average gradient of 5.7 percent, this is not a tough climb. Still, the views and the beautiful hairpin bends will amaze you. Plus, you can combine this with a nice drink afterwards! If you stay in one of the coastal towns, you can also combine the climb with a walk along the Romanya de la Selva. Not a bad option either. Enjoy it!
Route Sant Grau
Rocacorba
This climb was already mentioned in our article about Girona. What a beautiful monster this is, truly a gem in Catalonia. This is Girona’s and the surrounding area’s training climb. It starts off slowly at first and the part with a flat stretch feels really flat. Then it picks up with steady uphill sections, with you regularly reaching 10 percent or more. The climb has become well known to many thanks to David Millar, who gave the climb a new status with his Rocacorba Cycling Club. Most members of this invite-only club count on +10 minutes for a good time. In good spirits, pros are racing around the half hour mark.
Route Rocacorba
Any more tips?
The 5 most beautiful climbs in Catalonia are, of course, arbitrary. Do you have any extra tips? Let us know!
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.